China vs Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (excluding high income): Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+)

China
70.3%
in 2018
Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (excluding high income)
47.1%
in 2021
China rank
36th
Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (excluding high income) rank
33rd

Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) over time

  • China
  • Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (excluding high income)
020406080198220012021

How they compare

China currently reports 70.3% against 47.1% in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (excluding high income), a difference of 23.2%.

That makes China's figure about 1.5 times Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (excluding high income)'s.

Across all 13 years both countries report, China has been ahead every year.

China ranks 36th and Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (excluding high income) ranks 33rd of 199 countries.

China has averaged higher in every one of the 2 decades both report.

Head to head by decade

Decade China Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (excluding high income) Difference Ahead
2000s 73.4% 46.1% 27.3% China
2010s 70.8% 46.7% 24.0% China

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+), China or Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (excluding high income)?
China, at 70.3% against 47.1% in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (excluding high income) as of 2018.
What is the difference in labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) between China and Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (excluding high income)?
23.2%, with China ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for China and Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (excluding high income)?
13 years are reported by both, from 2000 to 2016.
How do China and Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (excluding high income) rank globally for labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+)?
China ranks 36th and Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (excluding high income) ranks 33rd of 199 countries.
Where does this data come from?
Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) (national estimate). Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

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China vs Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (excluding high income): Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+). Statizoid, drawing on Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO). Retrieved 19 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/compare/labor-force-participation-rate-total-percent-of-total-population-ages-15-national-estimate/china/middle-east-north-africa-afghanistan-and-pakistan-excluding-high-income/

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About this data

Indicator
Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) (national estimate)
Source
Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
232 places, 5,713 data points, 1960–2025
Last refreshed

Labor force participation rate is the proportion of the population ages 15 and older that is economically active: all people who supply labor for the production of goods and services during a specified period.